Package having bottle support member therein

ABSTRACT

A package having an insert member for steadying a bottle carried inside the outer package casing. The insert member is crownshaped and has the form of an inverted cup, comprising a thin, depending skirt portion for frictional engagement with the open lip of the outer casing, and an upper throat portion of reduced size adapted to at least partially encircle and engage the neck of the bottle at a point below its uppermost surface. In its use, the bottle neck is first inserted into the throat portion of the member and the assembly of the two pieces is then placed into the casing through the open top end thereof. The arrangement is such that the skirt portion of the member engages part of the inner surface of the casing and thus maintains the neck of the bottle centralized with respect thereto. In one form, the throat of the member has a U-shaped configuration, enabling the member to be slid into the neck from the side. Other forms incorporate slitted walls in the member to enable limited and temporary expansion of the throat when the latter is passed over the neck during assembly. An external shoulder on the member engages the top rim of the container to provide a firm seating for the member once the assembly is completed.

United States Patent [191 Kruck PACKAGE HAVING BOTTLE SUPPORT MEMBER THEREIN [75] Inventor: Ralph E. Kruck, Waterbury, Conn.

[73] Assignee: VCA Corporation, Richmond, Va.

[22] Filed: Nov. 16, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 416,578

Primary Examiner-Donald F. Norton Arlorney, Agent, or Firm-H. Gibner Lehmann; K. Gibner Lehmann; E. Donald Mays [57] ABSTRACT A package having an insert member for steadying a 1 Aug. 19, 1975 bottle carried inside the outer package casing. The insert member is crown-shaped and has the form of an inverted cup, comprising a thin, depending skirt portion for frictional engagement with the openlip of the outer casing, and an upper throat portion of reduced size adapted to at least partially encircle and engage the neck of the bottle at a point below its uppermost surface. In its use, the bottle neck is first inserted into the throat portion of the member and the assembly of the two pieces is then placed into the casing through the open top end thereof. The arrangement is such that the skirt portion of the member engages part of the inner surface of the casing and thus maintains the neck of the bottle centralized with respect thereto. In one form, the throat of the member has a U-shaped configuration, enabling the member to be slid into the neck from the side. Other forms incorporate slitted walls in the member to enable limited and temporary expansion of the throat when the latter is passed over the neck during assembly. An external shoulder on the member engages the top rim of the container to provide a firm seating for the member once the assembly is completed.

11 Claims, 19 Drawing Figures PACKAGE HAVING BOTTLE SUPPORT MEMBER TI-IEREIN BACKGROUND This invention relates generally to packages having supporting means for bottles or containers which are adapted to be carried within outer protective or decorative casings, and more particularly to support members of this type which are especially intended for use with glass bottles manufactured to unusually wide tolerances and which have substantial size variation from unit to unit. In the past, a number of devices have been employed to compensate for dimensional variations in glass bottles intended to be received in protective or decorative outer casings constituted of plastic or metal. Frequently, a rigid casing was employed with an apertured cover (to recieve the discharge button of the atomizer or aerosol bottle), and a piece of sponge material was inserted between the bottom of the outer cas ing and the bottle to take up the looseness. It has been found that due to the upward pressure of the sponge on the bottle, the cover had to be securely fastened to the casing to keep it from becoming unseated. Such a re- 'quirement was frequently difficult to achieve, since in many cases it was necessary for the consumer to remove the cover and replace the bottle after the contents of the latter were exhausted. In situations where no Sponge material was employed, the resultant looseness of the bottle often proved to be unsatifactory, particularly in view of the poor dimensional tolerances of glass bottles as noted above.

SUMMARY 'The above drawbacks and disadvantages of prior in ternal support members are obviated by the present invention, which has for an object the provision of a novel and improved bottle support member which is especially simple in its construction while being com pletely effective in operation. The present improved support member, moreover, can be conveniently molded as a unitary plastic piece in simple mold cavities, thereby to keep the cost as low as possible. In addition, the member provides a firm hold on the neck of the bottle and thus prevents side-wise movement of the latter inside the outer casing virtually eliminating all looseness. A related object of the invention is to provide an improved bottle support member as' above characterized, which can effectively accommodate glass bottles of widely varying tolerances without sacrificing its firm supporting capability.

The above objects are accomplished by a novel support member adapted to steady an aerosol or atomizer bottle within an outer protective casing, said member comprising a crown-shaped, resilient filler piece of inverted. cup-like configuration, having a depending skirt portion adapted to frictionally engage the interior of the casing and thus retain the piece therein, and having an upper throat portion adapted to at least partially encircle and embrace the neck of the bottle at a point substantially below the uppermost surface thereof so as to maintain the latter centralized with respect to the casing and prevent looseness. The arrangement is such that the bottle neck can be readily inserted into the throat portion, and thereafter the assembly inserted in the outer casing through its open top. The bottle neck is thus spaced from casing walls and held captive in the casing by the support member.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings, illustrating several embodiments of the invention:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of an aerosol or atomizer bottle disposed in an outer protective casing, and a support member as provided by the present invention, the member being shown as engaging the bottle and its neck for steadying the same and maintaining the bottle centralized with respect to the casing walls.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the support member part of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the support member of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a section taken on line 44 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a bottle carried in an outer protective casing and supported therein by a somewhat modified support member constituting another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the support member part of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of the. support member of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of a further modified support member, having a partially circular opening constituting the throat portion thereof, the opening further having an enlargement for facilitating the entry of a bottle neck therein. I

FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view similar to FIG. 1, showing a pressurized bottle carried in an outer protective casing and retained by a support member constituting yet another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1 1 is a top plan view of the support member part of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a section on line 12-12 of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a section on line 13l3 of FIG. 11.

FIG. 14 is a top plan view similar to FIG. 11, of a further modified support member constituting still another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 15 is a section taken on line 15-15 of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a section taken on line 16-16 of FIG. 14.

FIG. 17 is a vertical sectional view similar to FIG. 1 but showing a still further modified support member constituting yet another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 18 is atop plan view of the support member part of FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is a section taken on line l919 of FIG. 18.

FIG. 1 illustrates an aerosol or atomizer device generally designated by the numeral 10 for dispensing 10- tion, perfume, and the like, said device comprising an inner container or bottle 12 which may be constituted of either glass or metal, and an outer protective or decorative casing 14 preferably constituted of plastic. The bottle 12 can contain a fluid under pressure, in which case a suitable valve 16, discharge stem 18 and depress button 20 are provided for effecting the discharge. The valve is secured on the bottle neck by means of a ferrule 22 which is crimped thereon.

Referring to FIGS. 1-5 and in accordance with the present invention there is provided a novel support or insert member 24 engageable with the neck 26 of the bottle at a point below the uppermost surface 28 thereof, for steadying the bottle within the casing 14 and maintaining the neck 26 centralized with respect thereto. The member 24 is particularly illustrated in FIGS. 25 and is in the form of a crown-shaped piece of inverted cup-like configuration. The member 24 comprises an upper throat portion 30 having substantially the configuration of the letter U as viewed from the top or bottom (FIGS. 2, 3); the throat portion 30 has an opening 32, part of which is circular, this part being adapted to at least partially encircle and embrace the neck of the bottle being supported. The opening of the U notch in the throat portion enables the latter to be slid onto the bottle neck from one side thereof during assembly of the dispenser.

Referring again to FIGS. 1-5, the member 24 further comprises an annular wall 34 and a depending skirt or bottom wall portion 36 adapted to be received inside the casing and to engage part of the interior surface thereof. An external shoulder 38 on the annular wall 34 closely abuts the top rim of the casing, the rim providing a seat for the member 24, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The interior surface 40 of the skirt 36 is provided with a series of spaced ribs 42 which engage limited areas of the body of the bottle to provide support for the latter, the ribs being shown particularly in FIGS. 4 and 5.

During assembly of the dispenser, the support member 24 is first slid over the neck 26 of the bottle from the side of the latter such that the throat embraces the neck at the location of the ferrule 22. Due to the fact that the member is constituted of resilient plastic, the throat can be slightly smaller than the average neck such that after assembly, the open part of the throat has been slightly sprung in an outward direction. By this arrangement, a constant force is exerted by the support member on the bottle neck, which has the desired ef fect of maintaining engagement between the two parts and providing highly satisfactory support for the bottle. During the insertion of the assembly into the outer casing, the parts of the throat 30 on opposite sides of the opening are urged slightly inwardly by the outer casing walls. This accomplishes two objectives. It provides a frictional fit between the casing and the support member tends to prevent the latter from becoming dislodged after initial assembly. It also tends to bias the throat into firmer engagement with the bottle neck to provide improved support therefor. By this arrangement, the bottle is restrained against not only rocking movement from side to side, but also longitudinal or vertical movement with respect to the casing by the frictional engagement of the ribs 42 on the surface 40 and the bottle body, as shown in FIG. 1. I have found that the above construction provides more than adequate support for a bottle without the need for additional retaining means, such as filler or sponge material disposed between the bottle and easing walls, etc. A decorative collar 43 is shown in FIG. 1, which is merely press-fitted over the support member as shown, and frictionally engages the outer surface of the annular wall 34 thereof. A removable cover (not shown) can be placed over the collar to provide an attractive finished appearance to the dispenser during display, and to protect the dispenser from accidental discharge during shipping and storage.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 6-8. FIG. 6 is-a fragmentary vertical sectional view of an aerosol dispenser 44 comprising an outer casing 46 and a glass bottle 48 provided with the usual valve 50, stem 52 and depress button 54. In accordance with the present invention there is provided a support or insert member 56 in the form of an inverted cup, the member having a throat portion 58 of substantially U- shaped configuration, and a depending skirt portion 60 of generally rectangular configuration. The member 56 is particularly illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8. As in the previous embodiment, the throat portion 58 is open at one side to facilitate assembly of the member onto the bottle neck. In FIG. 6, the depending skirt 60 has an inner surface 62 of substantially conical configuration. This surface is adapted to engage the body of the bottle as shown, and to maintain the latter well seated inside the outer casing 46. It can be seen that as the member is pressed into the casing, this conical surface will tend to centralize the bottle; a friction fit between the casing and the member holds the latter captive once the assembly is completed. As in the previous embodiment, an external shoulder 64 on the member rests on the top rim of the outer casing 46 in the fully assembled dispenser.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 9, illustrating a support member generally designated by the numeral 66. The throat portion 68 has an opening, part of which is circular and is centrally disposed with respect to the rest of the member. This part is designated 70 in FIG. 9. Another part 72 of the opening is enlarged and lies outside the outlines or boundaries of the circular part 70 if the latter were extended to constitute a complete circle. This part 72 is disposed toward the right in FIG. 9. The part 70 is adapted to partially encircle and embrace the neck of the bottle as in FIG. 1. The enlargement 72 is of sufficient size to admit and pass the bottle neck after which the support member can be slid laterally such that the part 70 properly grips the neck. The assembly consisting of the bottle and support member can then be inserted into the outer casing in the manner illustrated in FIG. 1.

Still another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 1013, which illustrate a modified support member 74 retaining a glass bottle 76 inside an outer casing 78. The member 74 is particularly illustrated in FIGS. 1l13, and comprises a throat portion 80 having a central opening 82 of circular configuration, adapted to encircle and embrace the neck of the bottle below the uppermost surface thereof in the vicinity of the ferrule. By the present invention there is provided an annular wall 84 having the configuration of a lateral section of a pyramid and extending downwardly in FIG. 13 from the throat portion 80. The wall 84 terminates in a depending skirt 86. As shown, the wall 84 has a plurality of slits 88, dividing the throat portion 80 into two parts capable of undergoing limited flexing movement toward and away from one another. The slits extend toward one another along opposite corners of the pyramid section (FIG. 11), and divide the annular wall 84 into two halves or parts which are joined by hinges 92, 94. These hinges are resilient and enable the halves to pivot, thus permitting separation of the throat parts for facilitating the assembly of the member onto the neck of the bottle. During assembly, the neck is first inserted past the throat halves with the latter separated, and then the halves are released, after which they return to the closed position of FIG. 11 wherein they engage the bottle neck. The assembly of the member and bottle is then inserted into the outer casing to the position of FIG. 10. The member is preferably molded as a single piece of resilient plastic, and the resiliency of the hinges operates to bias the throat parts into continuous firm engagement with the bottle neck, thereby to steady the latter and maintain it in a centralized position with respect to the casing. I

Still another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 14-16. The support member 96 comprises a circular throat portion 98, an annular wall 100 in the form of a section of the lateral surface of a pyramid, and 21 depending skirt 102 which is shown as a series of spaced, depending lugs 104 at the four corners of the member. By the present invention, the member is divided into two halves by slits 106, 108 which extend from the throat portion 98 partially through the opposite lateral faces of the pyramid section which constitute the annular wall 100. A pair of resilient hinges 110, 112 enables limited pivotal movement of the throat halves away from one another from the position of FIGS. 14 and 15, to facilitate passing the throat of the member over the bottle neck. The assembly and operation of this embodiment are otherwise similar to that of FIGS. l013, and will not be repeated here.

Yet another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 17-19, showing a support member 114 carried by an outer casing 111 and engaging the neck of an aerosol bottle 112. The latter has a ferrule 115 I 'which is crimped over the neck, and has the usual valve prises a throat portion 120, an annular wall 121 of coniv cal configuration connected with the throat portion 120, and a depending skirt 122, terminating in an external shoulder 123 for engagement with the top rim of the outer container (FIG. 17). The annular wall and the throat portion have multiple slits 124 dividing the latter into four symmetrically disposed parts 126, 128, 130 and 132 respectively. The plastic material of which the member is constituted is resilient, and enables limited flexing of the parts 126-132 away from one another from the position of FIG. 18. This facilitates assembly of the bottle neck into the throat, since the parts 126-132 yield outwardly when engaged by the ferrule 115. In the fully assembled position, the parts 126-132 are biased into engagement with the bottle neck as in FIG. 17 by the resilience of the plastic substance. There is thus provided a firm engagement between the support member and the neck. In this embodiment, the shoulder 123 of the member 110 rests on the top edge of the rim of the outer container 1 1 1, and a decorative collar 134 is placed over the bottle and support memher, and is adapted to engage an external shoulder 136 in the outer casing 111. The collar also has an internal shoulder 138 which engages the external shoulder 123 of the support member and maintains the latter in engagement with the top rim of the outer container 111. A removable cap 140 covers the depress button 118 when the dispenser is not in use. This cap presents an attractive appearance for the dispenser during display, and also prevents accidental discharge of the dispenser contents during shipping or storage.

This construction is seen to have a number of advantages, as follows: Assembly of the member onto the bottle neck is readily accomplished, since the throat vmerely yields outwardly as the ferrule passes there- .through. Also, there is no problem encountered with bly of the support member'therefrom is also readily accomplished; thus, replacementof the bottle is greatly facilitated and is readily accomplished by an unskilled person such as the consumer. Y

From the foregiong'itban be seen that I have provided a novel and improved package having a unique support member for steadying and centralizing an aerosol bottle carried inside an outer casing. The member is simple in construction and can be molded as a single plastic piece, constituted of polyethylene or polypropylene. Both the initial assembly of the dispenser and the replacement of the atomizer or aerosol bottle portion thereof are readily accomplished, due to the simplicity in construction; It is thus seen to represent a distinct advance and improvement in the dispenser art.

Variations and modifications are possiblewithout departing from the spirit of the invention. i

I claim: V v

1. As new article of manufacture, a package comprising in combination:

a. an outer casing having a bottom wall, a sidewall and a top opening of substantially the same diameter as the inside diameter of said casing adjacent the top of said casing;

b. a bottle in said casing, said bottle having a neck portion and shoulder portion thereon;

c. a plastic support, insert member received in said top opening for steadying said bottle, said insert member including,

i. a flexible top wall portion,

ii. a thin skirt portion depending from said top wall portion having at least a portion thereof engaging the interior surface of the sidewall of the casing adjacent its top opening, and

iii. said top wall having an opening therein adapted to at least partially encircle and to embrace the neck of the bottle at a point below the uppermost surface thereof so as to maintain the latter centralized with respect to the casing and prevent looseness thereof.

2. The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

a. said top wall opening has substantially the configuration of the letter U, to enable it to be applied to the neck of the bottle from the side of the latter.

3. The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

a. said top wall opening has a portion which is circular and is centrally disposed in said top wall; and

b. another portion of said top wall opening lying outside the boundaries of said circular portion and constituting an enlargement to enable the bottle neck to be inserted therein and subsequently slid sideways into said circular portion for frictional engagement therewith.

4. The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

a. said top wall portion has the configuration of a lateral section of a pyramid;

b. said top wall having a plurality of slits dividing the insert member into two symmetrical halves joined by a pair of hinges porvided in said skirt portion; and

c. said hinges being capable of limited flexing movement to enable said halves to pivot with respect to one another and to provided enlarge said top wall opening for insertion of the neck of a bottle into the latter.

5. The invention as set forth in claim 4 wherein:

a. said slits extend towardone another along opposite corners of said pyramid section. a l 6. The invention as set forth in claim 4 ,wherein; a. said slits extend towardone another along opposite faces of said pyramid section: 7. The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein: a. said insert skirt portion has a generally rectangular inner surface adjacent the lower end thereof; and b. said inner surface firmly engages the shoulder portion of the bottle for firmly holding the latter. 8. The invention as set forth in claim 7 wherein: a. said skirtportion is provided with internal ribs on I said inner surface which frictionally engage said bottle. 9. The invention set forth in claim 1 and further including:'

a. an annular external shoulder disposed on the outside of said skirt portion for engagement with the top edge of the outer casing to thereby provide a seat for the insert member.

10. As new article of manufacture, a package comprising in combination:

a. an outer casing having a bottom wall, a sidewall and a top opening of substantially the same diameter as the inside diameter of said casing adjacent the top of said casing;

b. a bottle in said casing, said bottle having a neck portion and shoulder portion thereon;

a plastic" support insert member adapted to abut said top of said casing for steadying said bottle, said insert member including:

i. a top wall portion including a generally truncated conical lower section and a generally cylindrical upper section defining a cylindrical opening in said top wall portion,

ii. a generally cylindrical skirt portion depending from said lower section,

iii. an annular flange on the lower end of said skirt portion adapted to abut the top of the casing; said top wall portion of said insert member having a plurality of slits therein dividing it into multiple parts capable of undergoing limited flexing movement toward and away from one another to facilitate entry of the bottle neck into said opening in said top wall portion,

said top wall parts being resilient and yielding out- I ward in response to insertion of said bottle neck, and

. said top wall parts biasingly engaging the bottle 11. The invention as set forth in claim 10 wherein:

said top wall portion has four slits therein dividing it into four parts.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO. 5,900,121 DATED August 19, 1975 INVENTOR(S) Ralph E. Kruck It is certified that error appears in the ab0ve-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 6, line 5, "foregf ioirlg; should read foregoing --3 line 60, 'porvided should read provided --5 line 6%, and to provided should read and to temporarily Signed and Scaled this seventeenth Day Of February 1976 [SEAL] A ttest:

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer Commissioner oj'Parenrs and Trademarks 

1. As new article of manuFacture, a package comprising in combination: a. an outer casing having a bottom wall, a sidewall and a top opening of substantially the same diameter as the inside diameter of said casing adjacent the top of said casing; b. a bottle in said casing, said bottle having a neck portion and shoulder portion thereon; c. a plastic support, insert member received in said top opening for steadying said bottle, said insert member including, i. a flexible top wall portion, ii. a thin skirt portion depending from said top wall portion having at least a portion thereof engaging the interior surface of the sidewall of the casing adjacent its top opening, and iii. said top wall having an opening therein adapted to at least partially encircle and to embrace the neck of the bottle at a point below the uppermost surface thereof so as to maintain the latter centralized with respect to the casing and prevent looseness thereof.
 2. The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein: a. said top wall opening has substantially the configuration of the letter U, to enable it to be applied to the neck of the bottle from the side of the latter.
 3. The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein: a. said top wall opening has a portion which is circular and is centrally disposed in said top wall; and b. another portion of said top wall opening lying outside the boundaries of said circular portion and constituting an enlargement to enable the bottle neck to be inserted therein and subsequently slid sideways into said circular portion for frictional engagement therewith.
 4. The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein: a. said top wall portion has the configuration of a lateral section of a pyramid; b. said top wall having a plurality of slits dividing the insert member into two symmetrical halves joined by a pair of hinges porvided in said skirt portion; and c. said hinges being capable of limited flexing movement to enable said halves to pivot with respect to one another and to provided enlarge said top wall opening for insertion of the neck of a bottle into the latter.
 5. The invention as set forth in claim 4 wherein: a. said slits extend toward one another along opposite corners of said pyramid section.
 6. The invention as set forth in claim 4 wherein: a. said slits extend toward one another along opposite faces of said pyramid section.
 7. The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein: a. said insert skirt portion has a generally rectangular inner surface adjacent the lower end thereof; and b. said inner surface firmly engages the shoulder portion of the bottle for firmly holding the latter.
 8. The invention as set forth in claim 7 wherein: a. said skirt portion is provided with internal ribs on said inner surface which frictionally engage said bottle.
 9. The invention set forth in claim 1 and further including: a. an annular external shoulder disposed on the outside of said skirt portion for engagement with the top edge of the outer casing to thereby provide a seat for the insert member.
 10. As new article of manufacture, a package comprising in combination: a. an outer casing having a bottom wall, a sidewall and a top opening of substantially the same diameter as the inside diameter of said casing adjacent the top of said casing; b. a bottle in said casing, said bottle having a neck portion and shoulder portion thereon; c. a plastic support insert member adapted to abut said top of said casing for steadying said bottle, said insert member including: i. a top wall portion including a generally truncated conical lower section and a generally cylindrical upper section defining a cylindrical opening in said top wall portion, ii. a generally cylindrical skirt portion depending from said lower section, iii. an annular flange on the lower end of said skirt portion adapted to abut the top of the casing; d. said top wall portion of said insert member haviNg a plurality of slits therein dividing it into multiple parts capable of undergoing limited flexing movement toward and away from one another to facilitate entry of the bottle neck into said opening in said top wall portion, e. said top wall parts being resilient and yielding outward in response to insertion of said bottle neck, and f. said top wall parts biasingly engaging the bottle neck to thereby firmly hold the latter, following insertion of the bottle neck.
 11. The invention as set forth in claim 10 wherein: a. said top wall portion has four slits therein dividing it into four parts. 